Six-year-old Ana can’t wait until she is eight, so she can be more grown-up like her big sister Lidia. Together, in this blithe bilingual tale, the sisters make tamales for Christmas, and with each passing year their responsibilities grow. As Ana dreams of life at ten (knowing songs on the radio), 12 (not being afraid), up to 18 (owning her own business), she measures her growth through the tasks awarded in their tamale-making tradition. Zepeda’s charming story celebrates the satisfaction found in accomplishing a goal—no matter how big or small—and the trust new responsibility engenders. Ward’s illustrations, while at times inconsistent, lend an honesty and warmth to the text. Her additive use of color and the immediacy of her brush-stroke effectively convey the love and longing of a little sister—and the patience and constancy of an older sibling. Young readers will delight in Zepeda’s use of repetition and will giggle over the story’s jocular ending. (Picture book. 4-8)
